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Incident
Senior Deputy Lisa Whitney was killed when her unmarked cruiser was broadsided at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Hill Road.
A power outage disabled the traffic signals, and everyone was treating the intersection as a four-way stop, which is California law when traffic signals do not work. After Deputy Whitney stopped, she began to proceed through the intersection when the cruiser was struck on the driver's side door by a pickup truck whose driver, a 36-year-old woman, failed to stop. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The subject, who was under the influence of methamphetamine, was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter in October 1999 and sentenced to 13 years. She had a prior manslaughter conviction for stabbing a man to death on a San Diego beach in 1981.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Senior Deputy Whitney gave the Ventura County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ventura community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Deputy Whitney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Ventura County Sheriff's Office has lost 13 officers; 9 of them killed feloniously.
Lisa is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Lisa is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lisa is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 1 officer at Ventura County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1961, with 2.
In 1998, 11 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 91st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Lisa was 28. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Ventura County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 41; the middle age was 30. Lisa had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Lisa was 28. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Lisa had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lisa was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Lisa had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lisa was 28. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Lisa had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 33.3% of these deaths at Ventura County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 22.2%.
August holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 11.8%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 13 deaths at Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 9.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
Her people
Ventura County Sheriff's Office has 13 officers remembered here, Lisa among them.
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Edmund Guy McMartin
Aug 20, 1921
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Bryce N. Patten
Aug 19, 1960
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Earl Mendenhall
Jul 15, 1961
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Donald L. Gregory
Sep 9, 1961
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Chester Lewis Larson
Jan 20, 1969
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Donald E. Haynie
Jun 5, 1970
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Harvey A. Varat
Oct 20, 1973
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Thomas Kenneth Collins
Oct 25, 1975
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Peter John Aguirre, Jr.
Jul 17, 1996
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Lisa Dianne Whitney
Aug 12, 1998
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Robert Daniel Bornet
Nov 6, 2006
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Yevhen Kostiuchenko
Oct 28, 2014
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Ronald Lee Helus
Nov 8, 2018
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Ventura County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
